Roz Terek, Immediate Past President
French Teacher, Poland Seminary High School

As I begin my final year as a member of the OFLA Board’s presidential track, one of my duties is to chair the Nominating Committee whose task is to seek candidates for the annual OFLA election. In late summer, I invited Martha Castaneda, Carol Eiber, Richard Emch, Mark Himmelein, Cheryl Johnson and Fred Toner to serve on the 2013-2014 Nominating Committee. Each member of the committee has served on the OFLA Board and has continued to provide the strong leadership that is so valuable to our members.

OFLA is well-known as a strong association whose leadership serves to provide its members with numerous ways to collaborate with colleagues during the professional development opportunities OFLA provides. The Nominating Committee will work to seek candidates who will strive to follow the OFLA Strategic Plan: (1) Establish clear expectations for foreign language learners. (2) Build the capacity of foreign language teachers to prepare learners to demonstrate their proficiency. (3) Build support for foreign language instruction among parents, policy leaders, the business community and opinion leaders in the media. The Nominating Committee is seeking candidates for three Executive Board positions and four Committee Chairs.

With the recent changes in the professional responsibilities of teachers in Ohio, regardless of the content they teach, I am hopeful that OFLA members will express interest in being considered a candidate for a board office or a chairmanship. By having members willing to serve on the board, OFLA will continue to provide the strong leadership that has provided our members with support and guidance as they face these changes.

Board Member Openings for 2014 Election

Executive Vice-President: 4 year commitment

Duties: Serve for a term of one (1) year, and following completion of his or her term as Executive Vice President, shall become President Elect. Succeed to the office of President Elect should that office become vacant. Carry out duties as requested by the President or the Executive Board. Attend regularly called meetings of the Executive Board. Send out notices of the Executive Board Meetings

Editor for Electronic Media: 3 year commitment

Duties: Be responsible for all electronic media of the Association and for all electronic publicity for the Annual Conference. Be responsible for maintenance of the official OFLA website. Be responsible for publishing electronically all issues of The Cardinal to the membership. Collect and disseminate electronically such other foreign language and Association news as the Executive Board may direct. Attend regularly called meetings of the Executive Board.

Professional Development Chair: 3 year commitment

Duties: Establish, supervise, and coordinate regional meetings, forums, and workshops for purposes of mutual understanding, fellowship and professional growth. Compile a list of available speakers in the foreign language field for such meetings, forums and workshops, or for such other groups as may be interested. Write articles for the Cardinal. Attend regularly called meetings of the Executive Board.

Duties and Responsibilities of the Elected Standing Committee Chairs:
Attend Board meetings. Select committee members and work with them to carry out the tasks of the committee. Submit a list of committee members to be approved no later than the September/October meeting. Establish committee goals for the year and submit them to the board by no later than the September/October meeting. Submit a report to the president for each board meeting. Submit an annual report to be posted on the OFLA website stating goals accomplished and activities of the committee for the annual business meeting. Write articles for The Cardinal and the OFLA website. Present or organize a session at the annual conference. Preside or volunteer at the annual conference. Submit a proposed budget to the treasurer by April 1 for the following fiscal year. Monitor committee expenses such that all monies shall be used for expenses directly related to committee business (copying, postage, paper).

Beginning Teachers Chair: 1 year commitment (no more than 3 consecutive terms)

Duties: Advocate for and supports teachers who are in the first five years of teaching.

Organize and conduct sessions for new teachers at the annual conference. Write articles for the Cardinal. Attend regularly scheduled board meetings.

Scholarship Chair: 1 year commitment (no more than 3 consecutive terms)

Duties: Promote OFLA scholarship opportunities to the membership. Handle nominations and selection of scholarship recipients. Confer and meet with the scholarship recipients regarding conference responsibilities. Write articles for the Cardinal. Attend regularly scheduled board meetings.

Early Language Learning Chair: 1 year commitment (no more than 3 consecutive terms)

Duties: Serve as a contact for those needing information or support for early language programs. Advocate for early language learning. Work on issues of articulation with College and Teacher Education and Licensure, and Secondary Language Learning Committee Chairs.

Technology and World Languages Chair: 1 year commitment (no more than 3 consecutive terms)

Duties: Advocate for the teaching and learning of foreign languages through technology. Manage the Listserv. Write articles for the Cardinal. Present sessions or workshops at the annual conference. Attend regularly scheduled board meetings.

There Is No Greater Reward Than Knowing You Served and…You Made a Difference!

If you would like to become more involved in the leadership of OFLA, or if you would like to suggest a possible candidate to the Nominating Committee, please contact me at pres2013@ofla-online.org for more information!